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A Time in History (January 1-8)

PILAR TILOS was born in Hinoba-an, Negros Occ., Philippines in 1940. Baptized
by a Columban priest, Pilar was a member of the 1990 first group of Columban
lay missionaries, called RP 1, to be assigned to Pakistan. Hard-working and
full of life and humour, Pilar died in her sleep at St. Columban’s, Lahore on
January 4, 1996 and is buried in Lahore.

RP 1: (L-R) Emma Pabera (blue
dupatta), Gloria Canama (white dupatta)

& Pilar Tilos (pink dupatta)

January 5

FR. PETER LEONARD was born in Belcoo, County Fermanagh, Ireland in 1933. He died unexpectedly
in Ozamiz, Philippines on January 5, 2003. Having attended the local primary
school and St. Macartan’s, Monaghan, he came to Dalgan seminary in 1951 where
he was ordained in 1957. Appointed to the Philippines, he worked in various parishes
in Mindanao until his ministry took a new direction to lay leadership and Basic
Christian Communities. He directed the first Faith and Mission programme in
Dalgan Park, Ireland. Returning to
Ozamiz in 1980, he taught at the new regional seminary of Dipolog, Ozamiz,
Pagadian, Iligan and Marawi (DOPIM) until 1990 when he helped to establish and
direct the Columban House of Studies in Quezon City and later initiate a programme
for formators. Quiet, gentle and
amicable, Fr. Peter is buried in Ozamiz City.

Jaime Cardinal Sin and Fr. Peter
Leonard

Fr. Peter Leonard in his younger years

Fr. Peter Leonard

Columban Fathers Martin Dempsey and
Peter Leonard

FR. SEAN NOLAN was born in Cork City, Ireland in 1923. He died on January 5, 2002
in Castlebar Hospital, County Mayo, Ireland after a short illness. Fr. Sean
received his early education from the Christian Brothers, Cork City. In 1944, he joined the Columban Missionaries and
was ordained priest in December 1950. Assigned to the Philippines, Fr. Sean
worked in Mindanao for almost thirty years and then returned to Ireland. His
home in Cork is named “Mindanao”! From 1981 until his death he ministered in Bunnacurry,
Achill Island, County Mayo. Fr. Sean is
buried at Dalgan Park.

Fr. Sean Nolan

January 8

BRO. PETER RYAN [Brother Colman] was born at Warrenpoint, County Down, Ireland in 1903.
He died at Dalgan on January 8, 1971. He was a salesman before coming to Dalgan
in 1928. He learned building and construction, and went to Hanyang, China in
1933. There Bishop Galvin put him in charge of an industrial school. When he
was forced to leave China, he was assigned to the Philippines in 1950. His most
notable achievements were the construction of Ozamis Cathedral, the Diocesan
Seminary and Immaculate Conception College, both in Ozamis. Seriously ill, he
returned to Ireland in November 1970. Brother Colman is buried at Dalgan.